Welsh girls names that work in England

[sallysparrow157]

My partner and I are both (North) Welsh but living in England, I’m pregnant with twin girls and so far have been pretty useless in thinking of names...

We’re looking for names that are easy to pronounce by non Welsh speakers and also don’t look like we’ve spelt it wrong just to be ‘interesting’!

I’m not a fan of names like Seren or Enfys.

I don’t really mind names that are seen as a bit dated (but on the other hand lots of names that were common in my generation are names of people I was in school with and didn’t get on with!)

Help!!

I just remembered I met quiet few old ladies named Menai, like the bridge. All in their 80's and from the Caernarfon/Bangor areas. I hadn't heard it as a ladies name when I was growing up. I thought it was quite nice.

Heulwen?

Sali Mali a Pry Bach Tew
Casi Ogysta ac Ann Ufydd

Derith might work. It's from a Kate Roberts book. Can't remember which one.
Mared might work too and is very pretty.
Melangell is lovely but probably wouldn't work.
Morwenna is cornish but would work (Mor
is like the Morr in Morris )

I meant, Morwenna is cornish but in Wales Morwen is a girl's name and the Mor is like the Morr is Morris.
so Morwen is pronounced Morr-wen, not More-win.
From that you could add the na to make Morwenna ( Morr-wenna)

Arwen and Anwen appears on these threads but Alwen is prettier IMO.

Ffion or Nia?

It's a shame about Nia as it's such a lovely name! Like you, I'm not at all keen on Seren.

I like Mabli, Alys, Megan and Bethan from your latest post.

Oops! Sorry, not Mabli!

I do like Catrin though and Elin.

Merin
Karis
Seren

Begw
Eluned
Gwenno
Gwyneth
Myfanwy
Sioned
Mared

Karis isn't Welsh.

Catrin would be constantly mistaken for Catherine, IMO.

Nerys. My goddaughter's name and no one has ever had a problem with it (not in Wales).

I was going to suggest Nerys.
Merin isn't welsh.
Myfanwy would be said as Miffanway, Eluned Eloond - don't do it.
Begw is sweet.

Lots of names on here that are either not Welsh, or not girls' names. Remember than -wyn is a male suffix in Welsh, and -wen is Welsh. So names like Bronwyn are odd to Welsh speakers (Bronwen or Branwen are fine.) I once heard of an Olwyn (supposed to be Olwen.) Olwyn means wheel!!

Mari
Mared
Swyn
Eiri/Eiry
Elan

Menna.
I regret not calling my first born Menna.

Heulwen won't travel. It will be Hoolwin or Hailwin or Hule-win.
Ceinwen will Sine-win or Cane-win.
Arwen will be Ah-win.
Bethan will be Bethun.

Sian is frequently mispronounced by non-welsh tv and radio presenters.

As Sy-an, rather than Shaarn

Dwynwen
Cadi
Mali
Llinos
Blodwen

I actually think that Ceri is due a resurgence too.

Dwynwen won't travel and it will get misspelt as Dywnwen and pronounced as Doinwin.
Llinos - Cleen-ose
Blodwen - awful.

English speakers often can't distinguish between welsh Ch and Ll. You'll get Chl, Cl or Thl. Not good.
The Shaaarn pronunciation of such a pretty name ruins Siân for me.

Alys and Eleri

Not Eleri. It will be Ellery or El-Airy. Lovely name though.

I have never heard a TV presenter, or indeed anyone, mispronounce Sian as Sy-an, rather than Shaarn. It's a really well known name.

Sioned and Angharad would be my choices, OP.

@KissMeBunty olwyn 🤣